drawn. The large bed was occupied by a large lump
beneath the blankets that groaned as Carline slammed
the door behind her. Picking her way across the clothing-strewn
floor, she yanked aside the curtains, admitting the
brilliant midmorning light. Another groan emitted from
the lump as a head with two red-rimmed eyes peeked out
over the bedcovers. 'Carline,' came the dry croak, 'are
you trying to wither me to death?'
Coming to stand over the bed, she snapped, 'if you
hadn't been carousing all night, and had been to breakfast
as expected, you might have heard that my brothers' ship
had been sighted. They'll be at the dock within two
hours.'
Laurie of Tyr-sog, troubadour, traveLer, former hero
of the Riftwar, and lately court minstrel and constant
companion to the Princess, sat up, rubbing at tired eyes.
'I was not carousing. The Earl of Dolth insisted on
hearing every song in my repertoire. I sang until near
dawn.' He blinked and smiled up at Carline. 'Scratching
at his neatly trimmed blond beard, he said, 'The man
has inexhaustible endurance, but also excellent taste in
music.'
Carline sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over, and
kissed him briefly. She deftly disengaged herself from
arms that sought to entangle her, Holding him at bay
with her hand upon his chest, she said, 'Listen, you
amorous nightingale, Lyam, Martin, and Arutha will be
here soon, and the minute Lyam holds court and gets all
the formalities done with, I'm talking to him about our
marriage . '
, Laurie looked around as if seeking a corner in which
to disappear. Over the last year their relationship had
developed in depth and passion, but Laurie had a near-reflexive
avoidance of the topic of marriage. "Now, Carline- '
he began. "'
"Now, Carline," indeed!' she interrupted with a jab of
her finger into his bare chest. "You buffoon, I've had
eastern princes, sons of half the dukes in the Kingdom,
and who knows how many others simply begging for
permission to Pay court to me. And I've always ignored
them. And for what? So some witless musician can trifle
'with my affections? Well, we shall have an accounting.'
Laurie grinned, pushing his tousled blond hair back
He sat up and, before she' could move, kissed her deeply.
When he pulled away, he said, 'Carline, love of my
being, please. We've covered this ground.'
Her eyes, which had been half-closed during the kiss,
instantly widened. 'Oh! We've covered this ground
before?' she said, infuriated. "We will be married. That is
final.' She stood up to avoid his embrace again. 'it has
